Leviticus2
New King James Version
1‘When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.
2He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
3The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire.
4‘And if you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
5But if your offering is a grain offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil.
6You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7‘If your offering is a grain offering baked in a covered pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
8You shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the Lord. And when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.
9Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
10And what is left of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire.
11‘No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.
12As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma.
13And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
14‘If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads.
15And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grain offering.
16Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion: part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all the frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the Lord.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The meat-offering of flour. (1–11). The offering of first-fruits. (12–16).
vv1-11
Meat-offerings may typify Christ, as presented to God for us, and as being the Bread of life to our souls; but they rather seem to denote our obligation to God for the blessings of providence, and those good works which are acceptable to God. The term “meat” was, and still is, properly given to any kind of provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten for food, not burned. These meat-offerings are mentioned after the burnt-offerings: without an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, and devotedness of heart to God, such services cannot be accepted. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, and honey of sensual pleasure. The former are directly opposed to the graces of humility, love, and sincerity, which God approves; the latter takes men from the exercises of devotion, and the practice of good works. Christ, in his character and sacrifice, was wholly free from the things denoted by leaven; and his suffering life and agonizing death were the very opposites to worldly pleasure. His people are called to follow, and to be like him.
vv12-16
Salt is required in all the offerings. God hereby intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with grace. Christianity is the salt of the earth. Directions are given about offering their first-fruits at harvest. If a man, with a thankful sense of God's goodness in giving him a plentiful crop, was disposed to present an offering to God, let him bring the first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to God must be the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. Oil and frankincense must be put upon it. Wisdom and humility soften and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes delight in the first ripe fruits of the Spirit, and the expressions of early piety and devotion. Holy love to God is the fire by which all our offerings must be made. The frankincense denotes the mediation and intercession of Christ, by which our services are accepted. Blessed be God that we have the substance, of which these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in Christ, and in his work as Mediator, which no types and shadows can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be so entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do, if we would be accepted of God.
Key Words
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
מִנְחָה: a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
קׇרְבָּן: something brought near the altar, i.e. a sacrificial present
סֹלֶת: flour (as chipped off)
יָצַק: properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard
שֶׁמֶן: grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְבוֹנָה: frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Leviticus 2Explicates the 'salt of the covenant' as a perpetual, incorruptible bond between God and His priests.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Christ's offering of Himself to God is described as a sweet-smelling savor, fulfilling the grain offering's purpose.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Applies the prohibition of physical leaven to purging the spiritual leaven of malice and wickedness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jesus references the command that every sacrifice must be seasoned with salt, representing spiritual purification.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illuminates the term 'memorial' as a physical reminder of God's covenant and favor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the Levites' duty in preparing the fine flour and baked things for the grain offering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus uses leaven to symbolize corrupt doctrines, explaining the prohibition of leaven in holy offerings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The frankincense placed on the offering represents Christ's intercession and the prayers of saints.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Specifies the priestly practice of taking a handful of the offering as a memorial on the altar.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms that Aaron's sons could eat 'most holy' bread within the sanctuary precincts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows the designated boiling and baking places in the temple where priests prepared the grain offering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel command for speech to be seasoned with salt, representing grace and wisdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Relates to the firstfruits dough offering which was presented but not burned on the altar.
Supported by JFB
Details the ritual presentation of the firstfruits sheaf at the beginning of harvest.
Supported by Matthew Henry